A Tailor's Final Stitch: From the Flames to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Pan Wenxia, who sought deliverance after the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong. She now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This account reflects upon her passing on the day of the fire. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Jing, on December 16, 2025.

Pan Wenxia speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Pan Wenxia, a tailor by trade. Everyone used to call me 'A-Xia'. I am a bit chubby, not very tall, and I suppose I have the look of a kind, approachable auntie from next door. Right now, I am sitting in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, and I feel absolutely joyful. Here, there is a warm, radiant Buddha-light, and the melodious sound of the Holy Name 'Namo Amituofo' constantly fills the air. As I sit here upon my lotus seat, I no longer feel the terror or anxiety that once gripped me. It is a complete transformation from when I first arrived. Back then, I was just like anyone else who had lost their life in that fire—panicked, terrified, and utterly bewildered by how a sudden, massive fire could spread so rapidly in just a few minutes, filling the air with choking smoke that made it impossible to breathe or escape."

A Normal Day Turned to Ash

"On the day of the fire, I was working just as I always did, altering clothes for my customers. Suddenly, I caught a whiff of a pungent, unpleasant odour in the air. At first, I didn't think much of it; I simply assumed it was some material being used for construction work outside, so I kept my head down and continued with my sewing. But then, I began to hear a faint commotion outside. Before long, the sounds of piercing screams and children crying grew louder, followed by people shouting, 'Fire! Fire! Run for your lives!' I immediately dropped my work and looked around my shop. 'Heavens,' I thought, 'why is my shop filled with so many flammable materials? If these things catch fire, it will be no laughing matter. Losing money is a small thing, but if the whole building goes up in flames, I won't be able to smile at all.'

I rushed toward the front door, desperate to leave the home where I had spent the better part of my life. I naively thought that perhaps I could come back once the fire was extinguished. But the moment my hand touched the door handle, I recoiled instantly. 'Goodness, why is this handle so hot?' I cried out. My heart sank. Had the fire already reached my front door? This was a disaster! Was I going to die here? No, the situation couldn't be that dire. There had to be a way out. I told myself I had to try with everything I had; I would not give up my life so easily. I had believed in the Buddha or Bodhisattva since I was a child, and I prayed they would protect me."

The Desperate Escape

"I quickly grabbed a cloth, soaked it in water, and pressed it against my nose and mouth. With the damp handkerchief in hand, I forced the door open. Oh, the sight was truly heart-wrenching! The familiar hallway was already engulfed in flames spreading in every direction. Looking at the intensity of the fire, I knew it would turn into a sea of flames in no time. I looked toward the staircase, but thick, black smoke was already billowing toward me. There was only a tiny, narrow strip of the hallway left that hadn't yet been consumed by the fire. I looked down at my chubby figure and wondered, 'Can I really squeeze through that?' I steeled my courage, clutched my clothes tightly to avoid catching any stray sparks, and dragged my body forward. I was terrified that my clothes would catch fire—that would have been the end of it!

I finally managed to make it through that corridor, but I didn't expect what was waiting for me next. That was when I realised that the most terrifying part of a fire isn't just the speed at which it spreads, but the obstacles that block your escape route. As the flames crept closer, I used every ounce of strength I had to push aside the debris blocking my path. Because of this, I wasted precious time. Suddenly, a thick cloud of smoke surged toward me. In an instant, I couldn't breathe in any fresh air, and I collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness entirely."

A Golden Light in the Void

"When I woke up, I felt as though my body had become incredibly light. The heaviness I had carried for years was gone. I realised then that I had become a spirit drifting through space; my physical body was gone. At first, I couldn't believe I had actually died. In less than a few seconds, my entire life had come to an end. I had hoped to return to the home I had lived in for so long, but now, I knew I could never go back. I finally understood how fragile human life truly is—when the breath stops, everything is gone.

As a spirit, I drifted aimlessly through space. I watched as the place where I had spent most of my life was swallowed by a sea of fire. The familiar sights were consumed by the flames, and my heart was filled with profound sorrow. But there was nothing I could do. Without a body, I was powerless, forced to watch it all happen before my eyes.

Just as I was wondering where to go, a brilliant golden light suddenly appeared before me, illuminating the entire scene of the fire. Many other spirits were curiously moving toward that light, and I quickly followed them."

The Grace of Namo Amituofo

"When I entered the light, oh, it was such a beautiful place! Here, we no longer felt pain or sorrow. The sound of the Holy Name 'Namo Amituofo' echoed constantly. I wondered to myself, 'Did the Buddha come down to save us? Did the Buddha really appear because He saw this disaster?' I had lived to this age and had never heard of such a thing; none of my elders had ever mentioned anything like this happening. I blinked my eyes, trying to make sure what I was seeing was real.

It was true. The Buddha had truly come, and we were saved. We were one by one guided by the golden light onto lotus seats. Our panicked, anxious hearts found peace here. The warm Buddha-light shone upon us, and it felt so comfortable! In an instant, the trauma caused by the fire was forgotten.

We all sat there quietly, listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks. Although I didn't understand the content at first, I just hummed the name 'Namo Amituofo'—a name I had been familiar with since childhood. I never imagined that after my life ended, I would come to a place like this. I had never thought about where people go after death, but I am incredibly grateful to have arrived in such a beautiful place."

A Message to the Living

"After listening to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks for some time, I learned that this is the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Although it is already a wonderful place, I heard that if one chants the Buddha's name diligently, one can go to an even better place—the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the kingdom of Namo Amituofo. This Western Dharma-Nature Land is a place that Namo Amituofo gifted to Practitioner Su; if Practitioner Su were not here, this Dharma-Nature Land would not exist. So, I began to chant the Buddha's name with all my heart: 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo,' hoping that one day I can go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and be with Namo Amituofo forever.

Now, as I listen to the Dharma here in the Dharma-Nature Land, I am filled with joy. I want to tell everyone that the Buddha is truly residing on this Earth, right at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia—a name that is quite long, but after attending several Dharma assemblies, I finally managed to remember it! It was the compassionate Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su who saved those of us who lost our lives in the fire. We are not dead; we have only lost our physical bodies. Our spirits are unborn and undying. If you want to talk to us, you can do so at any time. We are all deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su; otherwise, we would still be drifting in the space of that fire, unable to stay in such a wonderful place as we do now.

The Dharma assemblies here are truly magnificent. The compassionate Practitioner Su leads one hundred and eighty prison guards and deceased beings who wish to go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss to the West every week, and he also accepts interviews from the Venerables. This Practitioner Su has incredible skills—you won't find them anywhere else in the world. Every time I see him use his countless manifestations during the Dharma assembly, I am left dumbfounded. The scene of the Chao Du is truly spectacular. I never knew that the human body could be developed to such a realm; it is technology beyond technology, something I never knew existed. The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is truly right here. If you want to learn Practitioner Su's skills or if you want to find me, A-Xia, please contact the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Thank you, Namo Amituofo."

Pan Wenxia